Alaska Department of Fish and Game Questions Climate Cahnge and Endangered Species Act

In a brief press release dated July 9, 2013, ADF&G director Doug Vincent-Lang

Courtesy Alaska Dispatch

made two disturbing comments for the state official charged with overseeing endangered species.  It is further evidence that Alaska's state government has gotten out of whack with regard to the balance between needs of the environment and the profit motives of industry.

In an apparent misunderstanding of the words endangered and/or threatened, Mr. Vincent-Lang begins by stating, "This decision begins to bring rationality to the recent misapplication of the ESA that has resulted in the precautionary listing of currently abundant and robust species." Mr. Vincent-Lang is unaware or chooses to ignore the goal of conservation being to prevent the scenario where species will be endangered.  Undoubtedly, Mr. Vincent-Lang, as his career trajectory has demonstrated previously, was simply parroting the sentiment of superiors eager to make certain no impediments were thrust before the oil industry, mining concerns, or other commercial pursuits.

In the same sentence, and perhaps more disturbing in light of recent moves towards rationality by conservatives on climate change, Mr. Vincent-Lang went on to say additions to endangered species were "based on speculated and unproven climate-related impacts."  It is truly frightening to this author to hear an official of this magnificent state so unenthused for his charge as steward of the state's natural resources.

It would be more proper for him to resign and receive his paycheck from one of the industry groups he already represents.